Tour of Duty tickets are a valuable in-game item in Team Fortress 2 that allow players to gain item drops and rank up their Tour of Duty badge by completing Mann vs. Machine missions. Determining the monetary value of a Tour of Duty ticket can be tricky, as there are several factors that affect their worth.
What is a Tour of Duty Ticket?
A Tour of Duty Ticket is an item in Team Fortress 2 that grants access to Mann vs. Machine mode, which is a cooperative game mode where players work together to defeat waves of robot enemies. When using a Tour of Duty ticket, players can complete missions on Mann vs Machine maps to earn item drops, loot, and other rewards.
Each completed mission counts as a “tour” towards leveling up your Tour of Duty badge. There are three types of Tour of Duty tickets:
- Operation Tour of Duty Ticket – Grants access to that operation’s tours
- Squad Surplus Voucher – Grants a single tour completion
- Mann Up Tour of Duty Ticket – Grants access to all Tours
The tickets are consumed after a set number of missions are completed. Players need to have tickets in their backpack to access Mann vs. Machine mode and gain rewards.
How Do You Get Tour of Duty Tickets?
There are a few ways to acquire Tour of Duty tickets in Team Fortress 2:
- Purchasing them directly from the Mann Co. Store – Prices range from $0.99 – $6.99 depending on the ticket type
- Trading with other players
- Receiving them as random drops by playing Mann vs. Machine maps
- Buying them from third-party marketplaces like the Steam Community Market
The Mann Co. Store is the most direct way to get tickets, but they can be expensive. Trading, random drops, and third-party markets offer alternative options.
What Factors Affect the Value of Tickets?
There are several key factors that influence the monetary value of Tour of Duty tickets:
- Type of Ticket – Mann Up Tickets grant access to all tours and are the most versatile and valuable. Specific Operation Tickets have narrower access.
- Mann Co. Store Price – Direct prices from the in-game store set a baseline value expectation.
- Supply and Demand – Tickets for older Operations are harder to find, increasing their worth.
- Item Drops – Completed tours award loot like weapons, cosmetics, and more. Desired drops increase ticket value.
- Wartime Keys – Rare bonus drops that open valuable Limited Late Summer crates. These crates contain Unusual hats.
Understanding these factors helps assess the fair market value of Tour of Duty tickets.
How Much Are Specific Tour of Duty Tickets Worth?
Let’s break down the value ranges for different Tour of Duty ticket types:
Mann Up Tour of Duty Tickets
Mann Up Tour of Duty Tickets grant access to all MvM tours and modes. Since they are highly versatile, they demand higher prices:
- Mann Co. Store Price: $6.99
- Steam Market Price: $6.40 – $7.25
- Trading Value: 5 – 6 keys or $12.50 – $15
Operation Tour of Duty Tickets
Operation Tour of Duty Tickets grant access to specific MvM Operations. Prices vary based on supply:
- Recent Operations like Scream Fortress – $1.50 – $3
- Older Operations like Two Cities – $2 – $4
- Very rare Operations like Oil Spill – $8+
The rarer the Operation, the higher the ticket value due to limited supply.
Squad Surplus Vouchers
Squad Surplus Vouchers grant one mission completion toward a tour. They have the lowest value:
- Mann Co. Store Price – $0.99
- Steam Market Price – $0.08 – $0.15
- Trading Value – Around 1 refined metal
Vouchers are easy to obtain and consumable after one mission, limiting their worth.
What Items Affect the Value of Tickets?
Completing Mann vs Machine tours with Tour of Duty Tickets rewards players with item drops. Certain lucrative items drive up the ticket values:
- Australium Weapons – Extremely rare weapon drops worth $150+ each.
- Killstreak Kits – Used to apply Killstreak effects on weapons. Worth $5-$20 each.
- Professional Killstreak Kits – Rarer version of Killstreak Kits worth more.
- Wartime Keys – Valued at $80+ and open valuable Unusual Cosmetic Crates..
The chance to earn these rare drops by completing tours keeps the ticket values high. However, the odds of getting valuable drops are low.
How to Buy and Sell Tour of Duty Tickets
There are several places to buy and sell Tour of Duty tickets:
Buying Tickets
- Mann Co. Store – Buy directly from the in-game store. Prices listed earlier.
- Steam Community Market – Largest selection and prices just above Mann Co. Store.
- Trading Sites – Use sites like scrap.tf, backpack.tf, tradeit.gg to trade with bots or other players.
- Trading Forums – Trade through places like /r/TF2Trade, TF2Outpost, Bazaar.tf.
Review prices across multiple sites to find the best deals.
Selling Tickets
- Steam Market – Easiest way to sell. List slightly below average market price for quick sales.
- Trading Sites – Quick way to sell using bots. Prices are slightly lower than market.
- Trading Forums – Allows you to negotiate your own prices when trading with players. More time consuming.
Consider cashout fees when choosing where to sell your tickets.
Conclusion
Tour of Duty tickets offer Team Fortress 2 players lucrative opportunities to earn rare weapons, cosmetics, Robot parts, and more. But the value of each ticket type varies greatly based on supply and demand.
On average, Mann Up Tickets carry the highest value at around $12-$15. Operation Tickets range from $1.50 for recent Operations to $8+ for rare ones like Oil Spill. Squad Surplus Vouchers have the lowest value at about 1 refined metal or $0.10.
When buying and selling tickets, check Steam Market prices and trading sites to find good deals. With some smart trading, you can build up your MvM ticket stockpile without overspending!